Petunia plant named ‘KL1117mut1’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘KL1117mut1’, characterized by its outwardly spreading, mounding to trailing plant habit; freely branching and moderately vigorous growth habit; early and freely flowering habit; single flowers that are violet in color; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Petunia X hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘KL1117mut1’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant, botanically known as Petunia X hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘KL1117mut1’.

The new Petunia plant is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Petunia X hybrida ‘KL 1117’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,485. The new Petunia was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within a population of plants of ‘KL 1117’ in a controlled greenhouse environment in Alajuela, Costa Rica on Sep. 10, 2015. Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia plant by vegetative tip cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Alajuela, Costa Rica since Sep. 10, 2015, has shown that the unique features of this new Petunia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Petunia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘KL1117mut1’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘KL1117mut1’ as a new and distinct Petunia plant:

-   -   1. Outwardly spreading, mounding to trailing plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching and moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   4. Single flowers that are violet in color.     -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of the mutation parent, ‘KL 1117’, in flower color as plants of ‘KL 1117’ have white-colored flowers. In addition, leaves of plants of the new Petunia are darker green in color than leaves of plants of ‘KL1117’.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of ‘Sunsurf Skytatsu’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,163. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of ‘Sunsurf Skytatsu’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more uniform than plants of         ‘Sunsurf Skytatsu’.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Petunia are darker green in color         than leaves of plants of ‘Sunsurf Skytatsu’.     -   3. Plants of the new Petunia are more freely flowering than         plants of ‘Sunsurf Skytatsu’.     -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Petunia are flatter than flowers         of plants of ‘Sunsurf Skytatsu’.

Plants of the new Petunia can also be compared to plants of ‘KEIlavbu’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,542. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of ‘KEIlavbu’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more freely flowering than         plants of ‘KEIlavbu’.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Petunia are flatter than flowers         of plants of ‘KEIlavbu’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Petunia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Petunia plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘KL1117mut1’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘KL1117mut1’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the spring in 10-cm containers in an acrylic-covered greenhouse in Carleton, Mich. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Petunia production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 24° C. Plants were twelve weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia X hybrida ‘KL1117mut1’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Petunia X     hybrida ‘KL 1117’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,485. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three to four days at             ambient temperatures ranging from 24° C. to 27° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About five to seven days at             ambient temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at ambient temperatures ranging from 24° C. to 27° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at ambient temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 24° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Outwardly spreading, mounding to             trailing plant habit with about four primary lateral             branches each with about three to four secondary lateral             branches developing per plant; dense and bushy appearance;             pinching enhances development of lateral branches;             moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 17.5             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 19.5             cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 25 cm by 30 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 19 cm. Diameter: About             2.5 mm. Internode length: About 1 cm to 3.5 cm. Strength:             Strong. Aspect: About 45° to 55° from vertical. Texture and             luster: Pubescent; matte. Color, developing: Close to 146D.             Color, developed: Close to 146B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate before flowering; opposite after             flowers develop; simple.         -   Length.—About 4.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 2.4 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Acute to rounded.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent;             matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B; venation,             close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 146B; venation, close to 146C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Strength: Strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Minute pubescence; slightly glandular; matte.             Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single axillary salverform             flowers; flowers face mostly upright to somewhat outwardly;             freely flowering habit with about 54 flowers potentially             developing per plant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long day responsive; long             flowering period, plants flower from early spring until             frost in the autumn, flowering continuous during this             period; early flowering habit, plants begin flowering about             six weeks after planting.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About four to five days;             flowers persistent.         -   Fragrance.—Faint, sweet.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 4.6 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm.             Shape: Elongate. Texture and luster: Pubescent; matte.             Color: Close to 91C.         -   Flower diameter.—About 5.2 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 5.5 cm.         -   Throat diameter, distal.—About 1.2 cm.         -   Tube length.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Tube diameter, proximal.—About 3 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals fused in a             single salverform whorl. Petal lobe length (from throat):             About 2.3 cm. Petal lobe width: About 2.5 cm. Petal lobe             shape: Fan-shaped. Petal lobe apex: Bluntly acute. Petal             lobe margin: Entire; slightly to moderately undulate. Petal             lobe texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;             velvety; matte. Petal lobe texture and luster, lower             surface: Minute pubescence; matte. Throat texture and             luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Tube texture and luster:             Pubescent; matte. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close             to N88B. When opening, lower surface: Close to N88D. Fully             opened, upper surface: Close to N88B; venation, close to             83D; color becoming closer to 90D with development. Fully             opened, lower surface: Close to N88C to N88D; venation,             close to 144B; color becoming closer to 91B with             development. Flower throat (inside): Close to 154C to 154D;             venation, close to 145B. Flower tube (outside): Close to             145C to 145D; venation, close to 145A.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals fused in a             single star-shaped whorl. Length: About 2 cm. Width: About             4 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Broadly acute. Margin:             Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Pubescent; matte. Color, when developing, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to N137A. Color, fully developed, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 146A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Width: About 5 mm. Angle:             About 45° to 65° from the stem axis. Strength: Strong.             Texture and luster: Pubescent; matte. Color: Close to 146C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.             Filament length: About 2.2 cm. Filament color: Close to             145D. Anther size: About 1 mm by 2 mm. Anther shape: Oval.             Anther color: Close to 160D. Pollen amount: None observed.             Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About             2.5 cm. Style length: About 2.1 cm. Style color: Close to             145C. Stigma diameter: About 1.5 mm. Stigma shape: Round.             Stigma color: Close to 145B. Ovary color: Close to 145A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development has             not been observed on plants of the new Petunia. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Petunia have     not been noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to     Petunia plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to     have good garden performance and have been observed to tolerate     rain, wind and temperatures ranging from about 2° C. to about 40° C.     and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 10a to 11b. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘KL1117mut1’ as illustrated and described. 